Popularity of Search Engines Continues to Grow

January was a popular month for the major search engines. In a study released today, Nielsen/NetRatings reported that 39 percent of Americans used a search engine during that time, roughly relating to 76 percent of active Internet users. Moreover, each user spent an average of 40 minutes using the sites.

Because search engine use has gained such momentum, Nielsen/NetRatings analyst Jason Levin feels that these search outlets will also gain more user-friendly characteristics.

“Search engines continue to be the primary tool people use to navigate the Web,” he stated on a site press release. “With the big search players having recently updated their search capabilities, Internet users should expect to find even better search results from the major search engines in the near future.”

The study shows that the top five search destinations in January were Google, Yahoo, MSN, AOL, and Ask Jeeves boasting user numbers of 59, 46, 45, 23, and 13 million, respectively.

Furthermore, researchers delved a bit deeper into the results to find out why people were using search engines. The big winner–shopping.

“Online shoppers have turned to search engines not only to find stores but to comparison shop,” Levin stated on the Nielsen/NetRatings site. “Search engines are quickly becoming the first destination for online shoppers, and we expect that trend to continue through 2004.”

Of the online holiday shoppers polled, 36 percent used Google to shop. The additional results are as follows:

• Google………….36 percent
• Yahoo! Search……25.3 percent
• MSN Search………14 percent
• Ask Jeeves………5 percent
• AOL Shopping…….4.8 percent

The poll, conducted with assistance from Goldman Sachs and Harris Interactive, proves that search engine use is extremely beneficial to Internet users. Subsequently, these numbers are sure to rise in the near future.

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